National park · Canada
Kluane National Park and Reserve
Drive the Alaska Highway from Whitehorse to Haines Junction (160 km (99 mi), about 2 h), then pick one: the King's Throne climb above Kathleen Lake (4–6 h return), the easy 3 km (1.9 mi) St. Elias Lake trail, or a flightseeing hour over the icefields (2026 estimate CAD 300–500+). Skip the park interior on foot unless you are on a guided mountaineering or ski expedition.Drive the Alaska Highway from Whitehorse to Haines Junction (99 mi (160 km), about 2 h), then pick one: the King's Throne climb above Kathleen Lake (4–6 h return), the easy 1.9 mi (3 km) St. Elias Lake trail, or a flightseeing hour over the icefields (2026 estimate CAD 300–500+). Skip the park interior on foot unless you are on a guided mountaineering or ski expedition.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
22,013 km² (8,499 sq mi)8,499 sq mi (22,013 km²)
approximate
Established
1972
Best months
Jun–Aug
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Canada ↗Visa-exempt travellers flying to or through Canada usually need an eTA; check your passport on the official Government of Canada site (canada.ca) and apply only there.
- Canada ↗A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in national parks such as Banff and Jasper; some spots (for example Moraine Lake) are reached only by shuttle or tour, so book ahead.
- Canada ↗Keep well away from bears, elk and moose; carry bear spray on Rockies trails and follow trail closures.
At a glance
- Country
- Canada
- Area
- 22,013 km² (8,499 sq mi)8,499 sq mi (22,013 km²)
- Park and reserve combined; larger than El Salvador.
- Established
- 1972
- Best months
- Jun–Aug
- Permits
- For some areas
Kluane protects 22,013 km² of the Saint Elias Mountains — larger than El Salvador — and 83% of it is rock, snow and glacier. Canada's highest mountain, Mount Logan (5,959 m), sits deep inside, and the park is part of the Kluane–Wrangell-St. Elias–Glacier Bay–Tatshenshini-Alsek UNESCO World Heritage Site. Almost all visitors stay on the eastern edge, along the Alaska and Haines highways, where the day trails, the Kathleen Lake campground and the visitor centre are. The interior is reached by plane, raft or a serious expedition.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1972.
Size and age
22,013 km² (8,499 sq mi)8,499 sq mi (22,013 km²) · national park since 1972
Park and reserve combined; larger than El Salvador.
Why go
- Mount Logan (5,959 m), Canada's highest peak, and the largest icefields outside the polar regions.
- Day hikes straight off the highway: King's Throne, St. Elias Lake, Sheep Creek and the Dezadeash River trail.
- Grizzly, Dall sheep, caribou and about 120 bird species in a park with very few people in it.
- A flightseeing hour over the Icefield Ranges is the only realistic way to see the interior without an expedition.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprCaution
- MayGo
- JunBest
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepGo
- OctCaution
- NovAvoid
- DecAvoid
- JanDeep cold; short daylight; most services closed
- FebCold and dark; ski touring only
- MarLonger days; snow still deep on trails
- AprThaw starts; mud and rotten snow
- MayKathleen Lake day-use area opens mid-May (check); trails still wet
- JunLong daylight, wildflowers, all trails open
- JulWarmest and driest; peak visitor weeks
- AugGood walking; berries; some rain
- SepCool, clear, fewer people; campground closes mid-Sep (check)
- OctSnow possible; services winding down
- NovWinter access; ice on the highway
- DecCold and dark; no day-hike season
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dall sheep at Thachäl Dhäl (Sheep Mountain)May–Sep · Look up-slope from the highway pull-outs; binoculars help. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Grizzly bearsMay–Sep · Most often on valley slopes and roadsides; keep distance and never feed. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Caribou and mooseJun–Sep | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Golden and bald eagles, rock ptarmiganMay–Sep | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Fireweed and mountain flowersJun–Jul | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Whitehorse
Drive west on the Alaska Highway (Highway 1) to Haines Junction; the visitor desk is in town.
2–2.5 h
From Haines, Alaska
Drive north on the Haines Highway (Highway 3) to Haines Junction.
3–3.5 h
From Anchorage or Fairbanks
Alaska Highway south to Thachäl Dhäl (Sheep Mountain), then Haines Junction.
1–2 days
From Whitehorse by air
Daily flights from Vancouver, plus Calgary, Edmonton, Kelowna, Ottawa, Yellowknife and summer services from Fairbanks and Frankfurt; then drive or join a tour.
2.5 h flight + 2 h drive
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Kathleen Lake area | Day-use area, boat launch, picnic tables, campground and the King's Throne and Cottonwood trailheads. | Drive in; operated mid-May to mid-September (check). |
| Thachäl Dhäl (Sheep Mountain) | The one place you can drive into the park; sheep on the slopes and the Sheep Creek trail. | Drive in on the Alaska Highway; visitor centre in season. |
| Alsek valley and the south | Rafting country on the Alsek, a Canadian Heritage river, reached from Haines Junction side roads. | Guided raft trips or long backcountry routes. |
| Icefield Ranges interior | Mount Logan, the St. Elias icefields and 83% of the park's area. | Flightseeing, or a permitted mountaineering or ski touring expedition. |
Sketch map
- 1Haines Junction · Town≈60.752, -137.511Map ↗
- 2Da Kų Cultural Centre (visitor desk) · Headquarters≈60.754, -137.512Map ↗
- 3Kathleen Lake day-use area · Gate≈60.578, -137.283Map ↗
- 4King's Throne trailhead · Trail≈60.575, -137.290Map ↗
- 5St. Elias Lake trailhead · Trail≈60.808, -137.750Map ↗
- 6Thachäl Dhäl (Sheep Mountain) · Viewpoint≈61.033, -138.533Map ↗
- 7Mount Logan · Summit≈60.567, -140.403Map ↗
Take the points offline
7 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along the Alaska and Haines highways, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (day use) | Free | person | No entry gate or day fee at Kluane; you pay for camping, permits and tours (check). |
| Kathleen Lake Campground | CAD 15.7 (≈ US$12) | site per night | Primitive, no showers; 2026 estimate. |
| Campfire permit | CAD 8.8 (≈ US$7) | site per day | 2026 estimate. |
| Backcountry permit (overnight) | CAD 9.8 (≈ US$8) | person | Annual version about CAD 68.70; 2026 estimate. |
| Aircraft landing permit | CAD 29.4 (≈ US$25) | party per landing | 2026 estimate. |
| Flightseeing tour | CAD 300–500 (≈ US$250–400) | person | Prop plane or helicopter; icefield landings cost more (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Day hiking no permit
Backcountry overnight permit or guide
Aircraft landing in the park permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- C$15.70≈ US$12
- C$8.80≈ US$7
- C$9.80≈ US$8
- C$29.40≈ US$25
- C$300–500≈ US$250–400
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Parks Canada — Kluane National Park and Reserve before you go.
Park rules
- Food storage
- Keep food in a vehicle or bear-resistant container; do not leave scented items in tents.
- Bear distance
- Stay at least 100 m from bears and never block their path; carry bear spray on trails.
- Camping
- Camp only at Kathleen Lake campground or with a backcountry permit; no roadside camping inside the park.
- Fires
- Fires only in provided rings and only with a campfire permit; check for fire bans before lighting one.
- Drones
- Not allowed without a Parks Canada permit (check).check
- First Nations lands
- The park lies within Champagne and Aishihik First Nations and Kluane First Nation traditional territories; harvesting rights are set in their Final Agreements.
Where to stay
In the park
Kathleen Lake Campground
Primitive sites by the lake, no showers; the only campground in the park.
Near the park
Haines Junction
Motels, lodges, B&Bs and the Da Kų Cultural Centre visitor desk; 20–30 min from the trailheads.
Near the park
Whitehorse
Full range of hotels and hostels, 160 km (99 mi) east; a base for a day trip or a flightseeing departure.Full range of hotels and hostels, 99 mi (160 km) east; a base for a day trip or a flightseeing departure.
Safety
Bears medium
Weather changes medium
Remoteness on long routes high
River crossings high
Wildlife on the highway medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The Da Kų Cultural Centre visitor desk, the Kathleen Lake day-use area and the Dezadeash River Trail are reachable by car with short, fairly level walks.
- King's Throne, Sheep Creek and the backcountry routes are steep and rough; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Pack out everything, including food scraps; there is little waste collection in the park.
- Stay on established trails to protect tundra plants that take decades to recover.
- Use a flightseeing operator that follows Parks Canada routes and landing rules.
- Buy fuel, food and guiding in Haines Junction or Burwash Landing so the money stays in the territory.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Kluane National Park?
There is no entry gate and no day-use fee for Kluane (check). You pay for what you use: Kathleen Lake Campground about CAD 15.70 per site per night, a campfire permit about CAD 8.80 per day, a backcountry overnight permit about CAD 9.80 per person, and an aircraft landing permit about CAD 29.40 per party. Flightseeing tours run roughly CAD 300–500 per person. All 2026 estimates.
What are the best hikes in Kluane National Park?
For a short walk, St. Elias Lake (about 3 km each way, easy). For a full day, King's Throne from Kathleen Lake (4–6 h return, steep). For wildlife, the Sheep Creek Trail at Thachäl Dhäl, where Dall sheep are often visible. The Dezadeash River Trail is the easy flat option from Haines Junction.
When is the best time to visit Kluane National Park?
June to August for long daylight, open trails and the Kathleen Lake campground. July is warmest and driest but busiest. September is quieter and often clear, though the campground closes mid-September (check). Winter is for ski touring and expeditions only.
Can I drive into Kluane National Park?
Only at two places: Kathleen Lake and Thachäl Dhäl (Sheep Mountain), both off the highways. The rest of the park has no roads; the interior is reached by plane, raft or on a permitted mountaineering or ski expedition.
Do I need a permit to hike in Kluane?
No permit for day hikes. Overnight trips into the backcountry need a permit, bought at the Da Kų Cultural Centre visitor desk in Haines Junction before you start. Aircraft landings inside the park also need a permit.
How do I get to Kluane National Park without a car?
Fly to Whitehorse, then take a bus, shuttle or organised tour west to Haines Junction (160 km). From there, trailheads and Kathleen Lake still need a vehicle or a tour; there is no public transport along the highways.
Is Kluane the same as Wrangell-St. Elias?
No. They are separate parks in different countries that form one UNESCO World Heritage Site with Glacier Bay and Tatshenshini-Alsek. Wrangell-St. Elias is in Alaska; Kluane is the Yukon part.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go